ADE Guide 2019: Amsterdam's best record stores
Amsterdam’s record shops are renowned in the European dance scene, crammed with cuts that have made local DJs into stars and ensured that Dekmantel festival is packed out every year. Here’s a few of the best to stop off at this ADE.
Westerstraat 244
1015 MT AMSTERDAM
Monday: closed
Tues-Fri (exc. Thurs): 11am-6pm
Thurs: 11am-9pm
Sat: 10am-6pm
Sunday: closed
If you're heasing out West to Distortion, you’ll want to dedicate as much time as you can to it. It’s bit like a scene from that TV show Hoarders, but without the chance of finding anything actually nasty tucked away. This shop caters for just about everyone, from ravers to punks to hip-hop heads. Burrow throw the stacks, and who knows what rare brilliance you could come out with?
Nieuwe Nieuwstraat 21hs
1012 NG, Amsterdam
Mon-Sun: 10am-6pm
Some rather subtle signage means you could blink and miss this place, but if you look out for Discount Bike Rental and Luggage Storage you’re sure to find a large collection of records hidden behind the narrow entrance. Killacutz is a must-dig for electronic music lovers, with everything from electro to techhouse, disco, breaks, and even gabber catered for.
Oude Kerksplein 26, Red Light District, Amsterdam
Wed-Fri: 3pm-7pm
Sat: 1pm-6pm
Right next to Red Light is Vintage Voudou, a record shop dedicated to gems and oddities from around the globe. It’s easy to disappear down this little alleyway and re-emerge hours later with a considerably lighter wallet - but with the bag of black gold you’ll have under your arm, it’ll be all worth it.
Oudezijds Kolk 71
1012 AL Amsterdam
Mon - Sat: 11am-7pm
Thurs: 11am-9pm
Sun: 1-6pm
A more recent addition to the Amsterdam cratedigging trail, Bordello A Parigi opened in 2017, bringing “the freshest club sounds” and a cool merchandise line with it. Whatever you're after, Bordello A Parigi is a prime location. Just across the bridge from Centraal Station, it could well be your first stop if you’re in the market for top-quality house, electro, techno, Italo disco, and “tribal rave anthems”.
Zeedijk 44 1012 BA Amsterdam
Wed: 1-7pm
Thurs 1-8pm
Fri-Sat: 12-8pm
Sun: 12-7pm
What started with a book chronicling 25 years of Dutch dance music has now become an electronic music hub. Not just a store selling records, books and merchandise, Mary Go Wild is also a publisher, record label, and the official ADE shop and hosts daily ADE Breakfast Sessions (10am - 2pm) and ADE Radio Sessions (2pm - 8pm). It’s so close to the station that you’ve got no excuse not to go!
Korte Koningsstraat 13 H
1011 EX Amsterdam
Mon - Fri: 9am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm
Half coffee shop — no, not THAT kind — and half record store, this bright, airy store was opened by local coffee obsessive Siebrand van Hengel to cater for those who love the bean as much as the wax. Supplied by Amsterdam roasters White Label Coffee and with records centred around hip-hop, jazz, and electronica, Black Gold is a great place to get away to recharge during the madness of ADE.
Oudekerksplein 26
1012 GZ Amsterdam
Mon - Fri: 12-7pm
Sat - Sun: 12-6pm
Tucked away in a secluded little courtyard in Amsterdam’s most infamous district, Red Light Records is a treasure trove of rare cuts from across the world, from South American jazz to West African funk and Italo disco. If you want that record nobody else has got, this is the place to look for it. It’s also in the same tiny complex as Vintage Voudou and Red Light Radio, so there’s no excuse not to pop in.
Utrechtsestraat 52-60
1017 VP Amsterdam
Mon-Sat (except Thurs): 10am-6pm
Thurs: 10am-7pm
Sun: 12pm-6pm
Opening its doors way back in 1955, Concerto is Amsterdam’s oldest and biggest record store, with a whopping five shop fronts welcoming in collectors. With so much music on offer, you might need a sit down — which Concerto also caters for; just seek out the café for books and beverages before you head back out on the hunt.
Gasthuismolensteeg 8
1016 AN Amsterdam
Mon - Sat: 12-7pm
Sun: 12-6pm
Whether you’re looking for techno, jazz, or even punk, Waxwell is a sure-fire bet for the best new records out there. Just a few minutes trot from Dam Square, you’ll find “a well-stocked store with a lot of new items on a daily basis”. Of particular note is Waxwell’s hip-hop section, and it’s a great place if you’re up for a deep dive into some second-hand bins.
Spuistraat 116
1012 VA Amsterdam
Mon: 1-7pm
Tues - Sat: 11am-7pm (exc. Thurs)
Thurs: 11am-9pm
Sun: 1-6pm
Perhaps the best-known store in Amsterdam, Antal’s Rush Hour is also renowned for its label and parties, featuring artists such as Tom Trago and Hunee. The shop offers top-quality techno, house, and other danceables, as well as jazz and funk from around the world. During ADE, the shop will host a number of in-store sessions.